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THE GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED A MAJOR POLICY CHANGE THAT WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO INSTALL EV CHARGEPOINTS IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS ACROSS ENGLAND - HERE'S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW 09:09, 30

May 2025Updated 09:09, 30 May 2025 To boost the deployment of electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints, the Department for Transport has made a significant move by scrapping planning permission

requirements for installing them on private residential driveways, workplace premises and public streets across England. This regulatory change aims to overcome bureaucratic delays in

expanding charging infrastructure, as obtaining council approval for public chargepoint installations can extend up to nine months. This strategic move is set to support drivers,

particularly those without the luxury of off-street parking, to consider switching to EVs by improving access to public charging stations. The launch comes as a National Audit Office report

from December indicates that the UK's installation pace of public EV chargers aligns with the Department for Transport’s target of 300,000 by 2030. Coinciding with the government's

plan to phase out new petrol and diesel car sales by the same year, the initiative denotes a critical shift towards a greener motoring landscape. Minister for the Future of Roads, Lilian

Greenwood, commented on the development: "We're cutting down on paperwork to power up the EV revolution so that drivers, businesses and those looking to make the switch will have

more chargepoints to power from and less red tape to deal with. "We continue to make the switch to EVs easier, cheaper and better by investing over £2.3 billion to support drivers and

back British carmakers through international trade deals, creating jobs, boosting investment and securing our future.", Lewis Gardiner, Operations Director at Osprey Charging Network,

lauded the government's recent step as "a hugely welcome and practical change that will make a real difference on the ground". He stated further: "Removing the need for

planning permission for essential electrical infrastructure like substations across the majority of sites will save months of delays, reduce costs and accelerate the delivery of the rapid

charging hubs drivers need." Drivers have also been warned of all the offences that can land them with roadside fine as rules change this week. Article continues below Jack Cousens,

Head of Roads Policy at the AA, reiterated the need for the Government to do "all it can" to increase EV chargers and cheered the move toward smoother planning processes, noting,

"will help accelerate installations". Cousens then highlighted the importance of: "The crucial element is ensuring grid connection in a timely manner. This is especially

important in rural locations and areas where there is no dedicated off-street parking." Rod Dennis, RAC's Senior Policy Officer, welcomed the news, suggesting more people would opt

for electric vehicles if common barriers were addressed, stating it depends on "removing the obstacles some people face". Despite this, he warned that the higher cost associated

with public charging points remains an issue that "relatively high cost of public charging... still needs to be tackled".